Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1887-04-28
. ny FAiTn looks HIP 10 THEE .
Ray Palmer, Eminent Writer Of Hymns. Lately
NereRNeh


Deceased.
The late Rev. DR.. Ray Palmer, writer of
the hymn beginning "My faith looks up to
| Thee, and many other sacred poems only
less we'll known than that, died at Newark,
n. j on March 20. He was distinguished as
prose writer, and the list of his works evil
dences his considerable literary industry.
His books we're reprinted in London. and
are probably as we'll known in the British
Islands as on this side OF the Atlantic
Among his productions are; Spiritual
Improvements, or Aid to. Growth
in Grace published in 1889. Closet
Hours in 1851; "Remembsr Mep in 1856
Hints on tho formation of Religious
Opiniop,' in 1869, Hymns and Sacred
Pieces in 1867 Hymos OF my Holy
Hours, in 1866; "lioms or the GnloSt
Paridise,' in 1863; Earnest Words on
True Success in Life" in r17b; Ctaipete
Poetical Works, in 1876; and .l,Nojces of
Hope and GlRdness,' in 1850.
The late eatimabIe clergyman whose
loss is deeply nlpulned, wae'born at Lit
tie Compton, r. l., Nov. To, 1905. His
father, Thomas Palmer, Judge of the
Court of Errors and Appeals, was de,
scendent of the early settlers of Plymouth
Colony When about l3 years old, Ray
Palmer went to Boston, whore he attend
ed school for some time 1T 10 he en-.
tered Phillips Academy at Andover,
where he spent three years preparing for
Yale. lie was graduated in 1880. For
year he taught the classics in a seminary
for young ladies in New York. In 1881
he returned to New Haven and taught in
the New Haven Young Ladies Institute
Mr. Ray was licensed TO preach by the
New Haven, West Association, in the
summer of 1882. He was married the
the same year. In 1885 he was ordained
paster of the Ceutrgl Congregational
Church, in Bath, Me. He remained in
Bath for fifteen years, and during that
pori5d he was a member of tho Board of
Oyerseers of Bowdoin College, Bruins
wick, and took al active part in Cduca
tional matters and literature.
In ls47 DR.. Ray made tour of Europc.
When lie returned he wrote a series of
notes and comments, which werepublish
ed in the Christian Mirror, at Portland
Me. lie became the pastor of the First
Congregational Church in Albany IN 1850
and held that relation for fifteen years
Union College conferred upon him tho
For thirteen years he was "a member OF
the Boad of Trustees OF the Theological
Seminary at Andoyer. Twelve years, be
ginning in 1866 he was Secretary OF the
American Congregational Union in New
York, and during his administration over
six hundred church edihces were erected
by the aid of that society. When DR..
Palmer was stricken wish paralysis he
/ l.. IL a.
for three years he was associate pastor
of the Bellyillo Avenue Congregational
Church. For years he has lived quietly
in Newark. On Oct 3, 1882 he and Mrs
Palmer celebrated the hftieth anniyer-
sary Of their wedding, and they received
many congratulations. DR.. Ray WAS the
father of ten children, seven Of whom are
now dead. He leaves two unmarried
! daughters, who have been living with
| him, ana son, the Rev. Charles Ray Pal
mer, of Bridgeport, Conn Mrs. Palmer
died about Il year ago.
only Faith Looks Up TO Thee has been
translated into twlnty languages. II
was written in 1880 in the build'ag in
New York whore the author was tearhing,
soon after leaving college. He carried
the hymn for two years in his pocket
book One day Or, Lowell Mason met
him and asked him If he had ever written
any hymns, Ms he was about publishing Il
volume and would like 20 include one OF
| h;s. Mr.. Palmer at first said that he had
not, but suddenly remembering the hymn
/ in his pocket-book he banded it over to
] DR., Mason, who read 10 and said You
may achieve great things during your
/ lifetime, but ou will be beat known by
/ this hymn .,..